Administration Targets Endangered Species Act

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The White House is taking aim at animals by attempting to “modernize” the Endangered Species Act.

In the administration’s latest move against the environment, Senate Republicans have targeted the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for “modernization.”

Republicans claim that the act has done its job and that protections and regulations need to be relaxed.

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman, wants to alter the law to give more power to landowners and industry groups who see animal protection regulations as an impediment to business and land use.

At this point, the administration has ordered federal agencies to begin considering economic impacts ahead of animal protections.

“We should also keep in mind its purpose: to prevent the extinction of species and to do our best to restore those at risk. I, for one, am reluctant to do anything to compromise the successes we have achieved.” — Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)

One of the key provisions of the ESA that Republicans want to repeal is a section that allows environmental groups to sue the federal government in order to have a species added to the list and to then be reimbursed for attorney fees by the government.

This administration has made it abundantly clear that it has no regard whatsoever for the wellbeing of our planet and environment, and, by extension, that they have equally little regard for the health and wellbeing of this planet’s inhabitants, animal or otherwise.